Mechanism for bending slider bodies



March 16, 1948. B. P. LAWSON MECHANISM FOR SENDING SLIDER BODIES Filed Jan. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Shegt 1 II ll WEE gnaw

ATTORNEY- March w, 1948. B. P. LAWSON MECHANISM FOR BENDING SLIDER BODIES Filed Jan. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY.

March 16, 1948. B. P. LAWSON MECHANISM FOR BENDING SLIDER BODIES Filed Jan. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

March W, 1948. B. P. LAWSON MECHANISM FOR BENDING SLIDER BODIES Filed Jan. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZA TTORN 15 March 16, 1948. B. P. LAWSON MECHANISM FOR BENDING SLIDER BODIES Filed Jan. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 MVEM'OR. My M a? I ATTORNE March 1943- B. P. LAWSON MECHANISM FOR BENDING SLIDER BODIES Filed Jan. '9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

arch 1 3, 1948. a LAWSON MECHANISM FOR BENDING SLIDER sonms Filed Jan. 9, 1946 9 h s-Sheet '7 11v m vrozc,

ATTORN Y N O S w A L R a MECHANISM FOR BENDING SLIDER BODIES Filed Jan. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

{a 26AM March 16, 1948. a. P. LAWSON MECHANISM FOR BENDING SLIDER BODIES Filed Jan. 9, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 iatente'd Mar. 16, 1948 2,438,060 MECHANISM FOR BENDING SLIDER BODIES Birdsall P. Lawson, Providence, R. 1., assignor to Pilling Chain Company, Providence, R. 1., a corporation of Rhode Island Application January 9, 1946, Serial No. 639,944

17 Claims.

This invention generally relates to the manufacture of sliders as employed in slide fasteners, and is more specifically directed to means for bending or folding preformed distended sliders to bring the wing portions thereof into parallel position relative to one another, thereby shaping the sliders to their final form required for their function in the fasteners.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine for progressively folding preformed sliders introduced in succession thereto, which is capable of continued operation under high speed production requirements, whereby the time required for the folding and therefore the cost of the operation may be materially reduced as compared with the devices heretofore generally used for this purpose.

Another object is to provide a machine of the aforementioned character which does not involve the use of complicated mechanical movements, and wherein essentially only continuously rotating elements are employed, to permit dependable continued function of the machine at the desired speed of operation over a prolonged period of time.

A further object is to provide a machine, as aforesaid, whereby the sliders, suitably fed to the machine, are engaged by slider propelling means, folded and conveyed to a point of discharge in a. single continuing operation, the folding taking place at a predetermined point of the progression of the sliders through the machine by means of a mechanism acting on the sliders while the same are maintained in engagement with the propelling means aforesaid.

A still further object is to provide a machine whereby the use of independent reciprocating devices, or the like, for folding the sliders may be dispensed with, and wherein the slider folding mechanism is associated with rotating slider conveying means and actuated thereby at predetermined time intervals during the continued operation of said slider conveying means to act on sliders presented in succession to the folding mechanism by the conveying means.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved mechanism adapted to act on the slider Wings to efiect the folding thereof, whereby the folding operation may be readily and accurately controlled and a high degree of uniformity of the finished product may be insured notwithstanding the speed of operation of which the machine is capable.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description of the invention illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine for folding sliders according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of a preformed slider of a type adapted to be folded by the machine, as it appears prior to the folding operation.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the slider of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the slider as it appears after completion of the folding operation.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a. right end elevational view of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the machine, on line 'I--'| of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the machine, with parts of the upper structure thereof removed, illustrating the path followed by the sliders in the machine and the position in which their folding takes place.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view, with parts of the machine structure removed to illustrate the slider propelling and folding means, and the means for discharging the sliders after folding thereof.

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the machine, with parts of the lower structure thereof removed to illustrate slider guiding means and means cooperating with the folding rollers in the bending of the sliders.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section, on line 12-42 of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the structure of the slider feeding chute.

Fig. 13 is a simila horizontal section, on line l3-l3 of Fig. 8 illustrating safety means associated with the slider feeding chute actuable to stop the machine upon improper feeding of the sliders to the initial position required for the operation of the machine.

Fig. 1415 a perspective view of the safety means of Fig. 13.

Fig 15 is a vertical section, on line Iii-l5 of Fig. 10, illustrating the slider folding means in perative position.

Fig. 16 is a vertical section, on line Iii-l6 of Fig. 10, illustrating the upper folding roller and associated elements.

Fig. 1'7 is a fragmentary vertical section, on line l'I-l l of Fig. 10 illustrating guiding and retaining means associated with the primary worm of the machine and the feed chute.

Fig. 18 is an exploded prospective view of the upper folding roller.

Fig. 19 is a horizontal section, on line l9-l5 of Fig. 16.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, numerals I and 2 indicate a pair of spaced supporting legs, rigidly interconnected by a member 3 and adapted to be secured at their lower end to any suitable base. Said legs carry a member 4 extending along the rear of the machine and provided with dependent spaced side plates 5, 6 forwardly projecting at right angles therefrom. One end of the member 4 has secured thereto a further plate, or end plate 1 adjacent the leg 2 in spaced parallel relation to the plate 5. (See Figs. 8,9.) aforesaid define the frame of the machine.

A horizontal shaft 8 is journaled in suitable bearings in the plates 5, 6, 1, and carries at its end adjacent the plate 5 a coupling element 3, for a driving shaft actuated by a suitable electric motor (not shown), and a gear l meshing with a further gear ll of equal diameter fast on a higher parallel shaft l2, vertically alined with the shaft 8 and rotatable in opposite direction relative thereto in bearings l3. The bearings are removably mounted in recesses l4 of the plates and 6, to permit ready removal of the shaft and elements carried thereby to be later 7 described (Figs. 1, 8).

The opposite end of the shaft 8 has secured thereon a gear I5, driving, through idler [5 carried by the plate 1, a gear l1 fast on one end of a grooved cylindrical member or primary worm I 8, journaled in the plate 1 and extending therefrom through an opening in the plate 5 to a point slightly beyond the inner face of said plate, the end of the worm having an extension rotatably supported by a bracket 22 carried by the plate 5. The shafts 8 and I2, and the worm I 8 are therefore driven in synchronism during operation of the machine. The worm i8 is parallel to the vertically alined shaft 8, l2 and laterally offset relative thereto toward the front of the machine (Fig. 7) so that the vertical plane passing through the axes of the shafts is substantially tangent to the periphery of the worm.

Mounted respectively on the shafts 8 and I2 adjacent plate 5, for rotation therewith in opposite directions, are grooved cylindrical members or secondary worms 24, 25, which are preferably integral respectively with further coaxial worms 26, 21 of larger maximum diameter. The structure and function of the two pairs of worms will become hereafter apparent.

A traverse is bolted to the plates 5, i at the front of the machine; a horizontal plate 3| superimposed upon the traverse projects therefrom between the secondary worms adjacent the aforementioned member 28. A bracket 32 secured to the underside of the traverse 33 supports the outer end of a finger or plunger 33, slidable on the traverse within a track defined by the adjacent plate 3| and a further shorter plate 34 also superimposed upon the traverse. The finger 33 is normally urged by a spring 35 to a position wherein its inner end is flush with the adjacent end of the plate 3|. A cover plate 36 bolted to the traverse 35 maintains 3|, 33 and 34 in position.

A member 31, secured to the rear frame of the machine, embodies a portion 33 extending to a point in proximity of the opposed end of the plate 3| and is longitudinally horizontally slotted, as

shown in Fig. 15, to mount an element or arbor The elements 40 projecting therefrom between the worms 24, 25, from which it is equidistantly vertically spaced, with its free end in vertical alinement with the opposed end of the plate 3| and finger 33. The projecting portion of the arbor 40 is substantially 'ofT-shaped cross-section and extends longitudinally of the machine from the aforesaid portion 35 of the member 31 to a point in proximity of the left end of the worm 21, for a purpose that will become later apparent. The aforesaid elements 3|, 33 and 33, 43 (see Figs. 8, 10, 11) define a guide channel for the sliders travelling through the machine. and the elements 33 and 40 also cooperate in the folding operation hereinafter described.

Mounted above the primary worm l3 there is *a slider'feeding chute, generally indicated at 43,

- (Figs. 8-13) to which preformed distended or open sliders 42, of the type illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, are manually fed or hoppered in succession and through which they are led to the primary worm II to be conveyed thereby to the worms 24, 25 and thence to the worms 25, 21 for folding and discharge from the machine as later described. Said chute 42 comprises a vertical body 44, longitudinally grooved centrally thereof, suitably secured to the machine frame and extending to a point close to the periphery of the worm l3, and

cover strips 45, 45 secured to the body and defining therewith a channel or guideway through which the sliders may fall by gravity.

The cover strip 45 terminates at a distance from the worm II; a block 41 is secured to the front of the chute adjacent the lower end thereof and has rotatably mounted therein the hub of a sector 48, juxtaposed to the chute body underneath the end of the strip 45, which has its rear face grooved The sector is maintained in the normal position shown in the figures, in which it cooperates to form the end of the channel for the sliders, by a pin or plunger 53 which is vertically slidable in a block 5| and is urged to a normal lowermost position by one end of a suitably supported bell crank 52 under the influence of a spring 53. The other end of the bell crank is associated with a switch 54.

The sliders are received within the chute 43 with their bail attaching lugs 55 disposed uppermost and outwardly, and the chute is so positioned relative to the worm II that the sliders come into contact with the periphery of the worm on the inner side of the worm and are allowed to slide downwardly during rotation of the worm along the outer surface thereof (the worm rotates in a clock-wise direction looking from the right end of the machine as shown in Fig. 10) to enter the initial portion of zero pitch of the worm groove 58 at the right end of the worm, when the rotation of the worm causes said portion to come into alinement with the chute channel, and move to a lowermost final position in which they clear the end of the chute, which position is required to permit subsequent engagement of the ends ofthe sliders by the worms 24, 25 as hereafter set forth.

This lowermost position is determined by the engagement by the lower end of the slider of the shoulder 55 of a track 5| (see Fig. 10, 17) secured to the machine frame, which track extends along the inner side of the worm l3 substantially to the end thereof adjacent the worms 24, 25. In the continued rotation of the worm, the slider is engaged and propelled by the helical groove 58 along the track 6|, which maintains the slider in engagement with the groove and guides the same in its movement. Should a slider for any reason fail to reach the lowermost position aforesaid, the upper end of -the slider will not clear the end of the chute and will therefore engage and rotate the sector 48 when the groove 58 begins to propel the slider along the worm. Rotation of section 48 will lift the plunger 58 in opposition to the spring 53 and thereby cause the bell crank 52 to actuate the switch 54 to disconnect the drivingmotor from shaft 8, through suitable conventional electro-magnetic and mechanical means, thereby arresting operation of the machine and preventing jamming and damage thereto.

At the end of the worm l8, which extends slightly beyond the beginning of the worms 24, 25, the slider is brought between said worms, rotating in synchronism with the worm 18, which are so spaced from one another and arranged relative to the worm l8 as to immediately engage with the initial portion of their grooves 64 the opposite ends of the slider and thereafter gradually displace the slider toward the left. The slider travels first in the channel defined by the aforementioned oppositely extending elements 3| and 38, 40, and then passes between the arbor 40 and the spring pressed finger 33 which engage the neck portion of the slider. At this point, the pitch of the grooves 64 at the left end of the worms 24, 25 reduces to zero (as shown at 65', Fig. 10) and the slider therefore ceases to move.

The folding of the slider takes place as soon as the slider has stopped, as follows:

The worms 24, 25 carry at their periphery respectively rollers 68, '69, which are mounted on shafts 10 within U-shaped retainers 1| received in suitable complemental recesses in the worms 24, 2'5 and in the adjacent worms 26, 21. The retainers are secured in the worms in radially adjustable position relative thereto by means of screws 12. The rollers are positioned at the ends of the aforementioned groove portions 65 of the worms 24, 25 from which they partially protrude, in alinement with the same, and are therefore in alinement with the slider when this latter has entered said groove portions and has ceased to move longitudinally of the machine. The rollers are also interposed between the groove portions 65 and the initial portion 14 of grooves 15 of the worms 26, 21 which merge with the worms 24, 25.

The root diameter of the worms 24, 25 is such that said root diameter plus the length of a distended slider and a small amount for running clearance is equal to the distance between the longitudinal axes of the worms. The rollers 68, 69 are so adjusted relative to the respective worms 24, 25 that the sum of the radial distances of the outermost surfaces of the rollers from the axes of the respective worms plus the thickness of a folded slider (as shown in Fig. 4) is equal to the distance between the axes of the worms.

Therefore, in the continued opposite rotation of the worms 24. 25 in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 10) the rollers 68, 69, that are in alinement with the then stationary slider, will come into contact with the slider and fold the same about the arbor 46 which engages the neck of the slider and cooperates with the finger 33 to prevent deformation of the neck while providing an anvil for the folding rollers, forcing the wings of the 6 I slideri from their distended position to a position in which they are parallel to one another. The cross-sectional proflleof the arbor 40 (best shown in Fig. 15) contributes to the attainment of the deformation of the slider to the proper shape illustratedin Fig. 4.

In 015112! to provide clearance, during the folding operation, for the bail-attaching lugs 56 of the sliders, which as shown face the upper folding roller 69 on the worm 25 at the time of the folding, the following means are preferably employed:

The upper roller 69 (see Figs. 18, 19) may comprise two outer discs 18 and an inner disc interconnected by pins 19 to form a rigid unit. The disc 88 has a series of peripheral notches 8! adapted to accommodate the lug of the slider and the discs 18 are provided with identical series of peripheral notches 82 angularly staggered relative to the notches 8| and shaped to receive prongs 85 of the end of a plunger 83, slidably mounted in the shaft 12 and projecting into the roller retainer 1 I The plunger is normally maintained in engagement with one of the notches 82' on each disc 18 by a spring 84 and therefore normally holds the discs 18 and the disc 88 in a fixed angular position during operation of the machine. When, however, in the course of its cyclic movement, the roller 69 comes into contact with the upper wing of the slider and the frictional engagement of the respective surfaces urges the roller to rotate about its pivot 10 in opposite direction relative to its mounting worm, the plunger 83 becomes disengaged from the notches 82 to permit such rotation.

The relative angular position of the notches 8| on the periphery of disc 80 is so determined that the circumferential distance from the point of contact of the upper wing of the slider with the roller 69 to the edge of the adjacent notch 8| in the direction of rotation of the roller 69, corresponds to the linear distance from the end of the slider wing to the adjacent end of the slider bail-attaching lug, so that the lug may enter the notch while the slider wing is being folded by the roller 69. Furthermore, the circumferential length of the rolling surface of the roller 69 is made divisible by an integer; thus, if the circumferential distance between two consecutive notches 8| is equal to the length of the frictional interface between the roller 69 and the folding slider, or in other words is equal to the total length of the upper wing of the slider, the roller 69 incorporating the disc 80 will be rotated at each folding operation relative to the worm 25 so as to be retarded by one notch 8|, and therefore the disc 80 will present to the next slider again a clearance for the bail-attaching lug thereof. Likewise, the notches 82 cooperating with the plunger 83 are angularly arranged at the periphery of the disc 18 so as to present a notch for re-engagement by the plunger prongs at the end of each actuation of the roller 69, so that the disc 80 will be retained by the interconnected discs 18in the retarded position aforesaid until the following folding operation.

Upon folding, the slider passes under the control of the worms 26, 21, oppositely rotating together with worms 24, 25. The sum of the root diameter of said worms 26, 21 and the thickness of a folded slider, plus a small amount for clearance, is equal to the distance between the longitudinal axes of said worms. Therefore, the slider is enveloped immediately after folding by v in the drawings project from the upper wing of the slider and machine by the pitch of the grooves along arbor 40 and off the end of the same into the entrance opening 81, adjacent the worms, of a discharge chute 86 extending from the worms toward the rear of the machine (Figs. 7, and suitably supported, for instance, by a bracket 88 secured to the element 4 of the machine frame.

The worm 21, which extends slightly beyond the worm 26, can'ies at its end adjacent the end of the arbor 40 an element or kicker 89 adapted to project from the periphery of the worm into the chute entrance 81. The element 89 is arranged at the periphery of the worm in such position as to be brought, in the continued rotation of the worm, into contact with the slider boxed between the chute walls and the worms to forcibly eject the slider along the chute.

While I have described the invention substantially with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made in the structures illustrated in the drawing without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising rotating means for engaging and propelling preformed distended sliders along the machine, means for feeding said sliders in succession to said slider-propelling means, a pair of members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider-propelling means receiving the sliders therefrom and conveying the sliders to a predetermined folding position in the machine, means mounted for continued rotation about the axes of said members for engaging the wings of the sliders at said predetermined position to fold the sliders, and means functioning in synchronism with the pair of members aforesaid for engaging the folded sliders and conveying the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

2. A machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising continuously rotating means for engaging and propelling distended preformed sliders along the machine, means for feeding said sliders in succession to said slider-propelling means, a pair of spaced members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider-propelling means for therefrom, said members engaging the ends of the sliders and conveying the sliders to a pre-- determined folding position in the machine, stationary means extending between said members engaging the neck portion of the sliders at said predetermined position, means mounted for continued opposite rotation about the axes of said members for engaging the wings of the sliders to displace the same relative to the neck portion of the sliders to fold the sliders, and means rotating in synchronism with the pair of members aforesaid for engaging the sliders upon folding thereof and conveying the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

3. A machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising rotating means for feeding in succession preformed distended sliders along the machine, a, pair of members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider-feeding means receiving -the sliders therefrom and having coacting grooves effective to transfer the sliders to a predetermined folding position in the machine, stationary means for guiding the sliders during successively receiving the sliders formed sliders along the machine,

their transfer to said position, means mounted on said oppositely rotating members actuated thereby to engage the wings of the sliders, when the sliders have reached said folding position, to l oppositely displace the wings to fold the sliders, i and a. second pair of oppositely rotating members actuated in synchronism with the first pair aforesaid having coacting grooves effective to envelop the sliders upon folding thereof and to transfer the same to a machine.

4. A machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising an entrance chute for feeding preformed distended sliders in succession to the machine, continuously rotating means for receiving the sliders from said chute and propelling the same along the machine, a pair of spaced members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider-propelling m'eans receiving the sliders therefrom, said members having coacting grooves eflective to engage the ends of the sliders to transfer the sliders to a predetermined folding position in the machine, rollers mounted on said oppositely rotating members in a position relative to the grooves thereof to engage the wings of the sliders, when the sliders have reached said folding position, and oppositely displace the wings to fold the sliders, and a second pair of oppositely rotating members actuated in synchronism with the first pair aforesaid having coacting grooves effective to envelop the sliders upon folding thereof and to transfer the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

5. A machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising a continuously rotating member for engaging and propelling distended preformed sliders along the machine, means for feeding said sliders in succession to one end of said member, a pair of parallel spaced members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider-propelling member for receiving the sliders therefrom, said members engaging the ends of. the sliders and conveying the sliders to a predetermined folding position in the machine, means mounted on said oppositely rotating members actuated in the continued rotation thereof to engage the wings of the sliders at said folding position to fold the sliders, and a second pair of oppositely rotating members actuated in synchronism with the first pair aforesaid for engaging the sliders upon folding thereof and conveying the-same to a point for discharge from the machine.

6. A machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising a continuously rotating member for engaging and propelling distended premeans for feeding said sliders in succession to one end of said member, a pair of parallel spaced members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider-propelling member for receiving the sliders therefrom, said members engaging the ends of the sliders and conveying the sliders to a predetermined folding position in the machine, means mounted on said oppositely rotating members actuated in the continued rotation thereof to engage the wings of the sliders at said folding position to fold the sliders, an exit chute for the sliders, a second pair of oppositely rotating members actuated in synchronism with the first pair aforesaid for engaging the sliders upon folding thereof and conveying the same to said exit chute, and means carried by one of the members of said second pair of members for electing the sliders through said chute.

point for discharge from the I. A machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising rotating means for engaging and propelling preformed distended sliders alon the machine, means for feeding said sliders in succession to said rotating means, a pair of members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider propelling means arranged to receive the sliders therefrom, bers embodying surfaces effective to convey the sliders to a predetermined position in the machine and temporarily hold the sliders at said position during the continuing rotation of said members, means associated with said members and actuated by the same during the dwell of the sliders at said predetermined position to engage the wings of the sliders to fold the sliders, and a second pair of oppositely rotating members actuated in synchronism with the first pair aforesaid for engaging the sliders upon folding thereof and conveying the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

8. A machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising rotating means for engaging and propelling preformed distended sliders along the machine, means for feeding said sliders in succession to said rotating means, a pair of members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider propelling means arranged to receive the sliders therefrom, said oppositely rotating members embodying surfaces effective to convey the sliders to a predetermined position in the machine and temporarily hold the sliders at said position during the continuing rotation of said members, means associated with said members and actuated by the same duringthe dwell of the sliders at said predetermined position to engage the wings of the sliders to fold the sliders, and means for engaging the folded sliders and conveying the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

9. In a machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising means for feeding in succession preformed distended sliders along the machine, a pair of cylindrical parallel spaced members rotating in opposite directions having coacting grooves arranged to engage the opposite ends of the sliders at the end of said slider-feeding means to transfer the sliders to a predetermined position in the machine, said grooves having a terminal portion of zero pitch, rollers mounted on said members at the ends of said terminal portions of the grooves and radially arranged relative to the members to engage the wings of the sliders at said position in the continued rotation of the members, to oppositely displace said wings to fold the sliders, and means actuated in synchronism with said oppositely rotating members for engaging the sliders upon folding thereof and transferring the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

10. In a machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising means for feeding in succession preformed distended sliders along the machine, a pair of parallel spaced members rotating in opposite directions having coacting grooves arranged to engage the opposite ends of the sliders at the end of to transfer the sliders to a predetermined position in the machine, saidgrooves having a terminal portion of zero pitch, rollers mounted on said members at the ends of said terminal portions of the grooves and radially arranged relative to the members to engage the wings of the sliders at said position in the continued rotation of the members, to oppositely displace said wings said oppositely rotating memsaid slider-feeding means- 10 to fold the sliders, and a second pair of oppositely rotating members actuated in synchronism with the first pair having coacting grooves effective to envelop the sliders immediately upon folding thereof and to transfer the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

11. In a machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising means for feeding in succession preformed distended -sliders along the machine, a pair of parallel spaced members rotating in opposite directions having coacting grooves arranged to engage the opposite ends of the sliders at the end of said slider-feeding means to transfer the sliders to a. predetermined position in the machine, said grooves having a terminal portion of zero pitch, rollers mounted on said members at the ends of said terminal portions of the grooves and radially arranged relative to the members to engage the wings of the sliders at said position, in the continued rotation of the members, to oppositely displace said wings to fold the sliders, and a second pair of oppositely rotating members coaxial with the members of the first pair and actuated in synchronism therewith for conveying the folded sliders to a point for discharge from the'machine, the members of said second pair having grooves extending to said rollers to receive the sliders immediately upon folding thereof and being of such diameter as to cause the grooves thereof substantially to envelop the folded sliders.

12. In a machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising means for feeding in succession preformed distended sliders along the machine, a pair of cylindrical parallel spaced members rotating in opposite. directions having coacting grooves arranged to engage the opposite ends of the sliders at the end of said sliderfeeding means to transfer the sliders to a predetermined position in the machine, said grooves having a terminal portion of zero pitch, rollers mounted on said members 'at the ends of said terminal portions of the grooves and radially arranged relative to the members to engage the wings of the sliders at said position, in the continued rotation of the members, to oppositely displace said wings to fold the sliders, an exit chute, a second pair of oppositely rotating cylindrical members actuated in synchronism with the first pair aforesaid having coacting grooves efiective to envelop the sliders upon folding thereof and to transfer the same to said exit chute, and an element carried by one of said last mentioned oppositely rotating members for ejecting the sliders through said chute.

13. In a machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising means for feeding in succession preformed distended sliders along the machine, a pair of cylindrical parallel spaced members rotating in opposite directions having coacting grooves arranged to engage the opposite ends of the sliders at the end of said sliderfeeding means to transfer the sliders to a predetermined position in the machine, said grooves having a terminal portion of zero pitch, rollers mounted on said members at the ends of said terminal portions of the grooves and radially arranged relative to the members to engage the wings of the sliders at said position, in the continued rotation of the members, to oppositely displace said wings to fold the sliders, stationary elements extending between the oppositely rotating members for guiding the sliders in their movement to the said position, one of said elements embodying surfaces defining an anvil about which 11 a the wingsmay be folded by said rollers, and

means actuated in synchronism with said oppositely rotating members for engaging the sliders upon folding thereof and transferring the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

14. In a machine for folding sliders for slide fasteners comprising means for feeding in succession preformed distended sliders along the machine, a pair of cylindrical parallel spaced members rotating in opposite directions having coacting grooves arranged to engage the opposite ends of the sliders at the end of said slider-feeding means to transfer the sliders to a predetermined position in the machine, said grooves having a terminal portion of zero pitch, rollers mounted on said members at the ends of said terminal portions of the grooves and radially arrangedrelative to the members to engage the wings of the sliders at said position in the continued rotation of the members to oppositely displace said wings to fold the sliders, one of said rollers having recesses for .accommodating the bail-attaching lug of the slider during the folding operation, and means actuated in synchronism with said oppositely rotating members for engaging the sliders upon folding thereof and transferring the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

15. A machine for folding preformed distended sliders for slide fasteners comprising a peripherally grooved rotating member engaging and propelling sliders therealong, means for feeding sliders in succession to one end of said memher, a pair of spaced members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider-propelling member disposed adjacent the other end thereof. said members having peripheral grooves for engaging the opposite ends of the sliders and conveying the sliders to a predetermined position in the machine, a. track for maintaining the sliders engaged by the groove of the slid r-propelling member aforesaid in a position relative to the member wherein the ends of the sliders may be engaged by said oppositely rotating members at the end of their progression along the slider-propelling member, means associated with the oppositely rotating members actuated bythe same to engage the wings of the sliders atsaid predetermined position to fold the-sliders, and means for eng ing the sliders upon folding thereof and conveying the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

16. A machine for folding preformed distended sliders for slide fasteners comprising a rotating member having a roove for eng ing and propelling sliders therealong, slider-propelling member for feedingsliders in ers to a predetermined position in the machine,

stationary means for arresting the sliders fed to the groove of the slider-propelling member in a lowermost position relative to the member required for subsequent engagement of the ends of a chute above said the sliders by the oppositely rotating members, movable means at the lower end of the chute actuable to cause stopping of the machine, said means being actuated by the sliders in the rotation of the slider-propelling member whenever the same fail to reach their lowermost position aforesaid, means associated with the oppositely rotating members actuated by the same to engage the wings of the sliders at said predetermined position of the sliders in the machine to fold the sliders, and means for engaging the sliders upon folding thereof and conveying the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

17. A machine for folding preformed distended sliders for slide fasteners comprising a peripherally grooved rotating member engaging and propelling sliders therealong, means for feeding sliders in succession to one end of said member, a pair of spaced members oppositely rotating in synchronism with said slider-propelling member disposed adjacent the other end thereof, said members having peripheral grooves for engaging the-opposite ends of the sliders and conveying the sliders to a predetermined position in the machine, said grooves embodying terminal portions adapted to hold temporarily the sliders at said position, a track for maintaining the sliders engaged by the groove of the slider-propelling member aforesaid in a position relative to the member wherein the ends of the sliders may be engaged by said oppositely rotating members at the end of their progression along the slider-propelling member, rollers mounted on said oppositely rotating members in association with said terminal portions of the grooves thereof for engaging the wings of the sliders held at said predetermined position to fold the sliders, and a second pair of oppositely rotating members actuated in synchronism with the first pair aforesaid having coacting grooves arranged to engage the slidersupon folding thereon by said rollers and to convey the same to a point for discharge from the machine.

BIRDSAIL P. LAWSON. 

